TABUK CITY, Kalinga – The city government earmarked some P1 million from the local disaster risk reduction and management fund as initial assistance to the calamity-stricken areas in Cagayan.
Mayor Darwin C. Estrañero stated the city council approved the ordinance that authorized the use of the funds for the typhoon-ravaged areas in Cagayan as part of the help extended by the city for the people affected by Typhoon Ulysses.
Aside from the financial assistance to the affected areas in Cagayan, Tabuk earlier sent drinking water and other basic food items to Enrile town right after the wrath of the weather disturbance in response to the call for help from concerned officials.
He reported the city government also allowed the use of its 5 rubber boats to rescue those who sought refuge on the roofs of their houses to escape the floods caused by the heavy rains brought by the typhoon.
Mayor Estrañero was one of the first local officials to visit the calamity-stricken towns of Cagayan right after the typhoon to distribute the initial wave of assistance from the city government and other kind-hearted residents of the city.
He disclosed the city government plans to bring the next wave of assistance that will be generated by the city disaster risk reduction and management office to the town of Lal-lo, one of the heavily devastated municipalities, as part of the relief assistance from the people and officialdom of the city.
Estrañero revealed there were also numerous residents of the city who personally brought their donations to the different local governments in Cagayan and such kind gesture during the prevailing difficult times is commendable and worthy of emulation.
According to him, the good gesture of residents in immediately responding to the call for help by local officials and the people of the neighboring areas in Cagayan brought out the best in them, especially during this prevailing crisis situation due to the ongoing global health pandemic aggravated by the onslaught of weather disturbance.
He said the city government had launched a donation drive among officials and employees, as well as kind hearted residents, and whatever collection will be immediately delivered to the heavily-devastated areas for survivors to have something to use to recover from the effects of the typhoon.
The city mayor called on residents who still have extra resources to continue giving to the city government’s donation drive so that there will be more survivors can be aided.
Estrañero said the city government is grateful the typhoon did not inflict heavy damages to life and limb in the city so that the residents can spare some of their resources for those affected by the calamity that had an enormous damage in Cagayan after more than four decades. By HENT